[Year 12 SofDev] SD sample exam - A17

[Mark]

Sample answers for the sample questions are at
http://vceit.com/wp/software-development/sd-sample-exam/

Section A is done. B and C are still to come.

BTW, I'd highly recommend all teachers write and *publish* their own post
mortems of exams.
It's great PD because it requires an unusual amount of critical examination
of questions, theory, and answers.

Publishing it is especially useful because when it goes public you don't
want to look like a nitwit so you must triple-check the questions, the
study design, IT theory, and your suggested answers.
You get to know the study design and theory *exceedingly* well in that way.

Regards,
Mark

On 3 August 2016 at 13:57, Mark <mark at vceit.com> wrote:

> Yes, I should have said C, not D.
>
> (Selection sort is *sometimes* more efficient - for example, with small
> datasets - but it seems to be the exceptional case.)
>
> Either way, the answer is certainly not 'A'.
>
> I think they misread their own question.
>
> Regards,
> Mark
>
> On 3 August 2016 at 13:37, Robert Hallworth <hallworth.r at wcc.vic.edu.au>
> wrote:
>
>> What?
>>
>>
>>
>> Answer is C. I think they have swapped the thinking to the exact opposite.
>>
>>
>>
>> kind regards
>>
>>
>>
>> *Robert K Hallworth*
>>
>> Director of Learning Technology
>>
>> Mobile:0431 892 398
>>
>> Ext 640
>>
>> [image: Description:
>> http://www.wcc.vic.edu.au/scm/pdf/WS%20&%20NWS%20Email%20Banner%2013%2005%2014.png]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:
>> sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] *On Behalf Of *Mark
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, 3 August 2016 1:26 PM
>> *To:* Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List <
>> sofdev at edulists.com.au>
>> *Subject:* [Year 12 SofDev] SD sample exam - A17
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi, sorting fans
>>
>>
>>
>> I refer to the SD sample exam question A17.
>>
>>
>>
>> *Question 17*
>> Compared to quick sort, the selection sort algorithm, on average, is best
>> described as
>> *A.* being more complex and taking less time to sort a list.
>> *B.* being more complex and taking more time to sort a list.
>> *C.* being less complex and taking more time to sort a list.
>> *D.* being less complex and taking less time to sort a list.
>>
>>
>>
>> The answer given is *A*.
>>
>>
>>
>> Since *when* is selection sort more complex and faster than quick sort?
>>
>>
>>
>> Wikipedia
>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorting_algorithm#Inefficient_sorts> says
>> - under the heading of 'Inefficient Sorts' (with my emphases added)...
>>
>> "Selection sort is an in-place comparison sort. It has O(n^2) complexity,
>> making it *inefficient* on large lists, and generally *performs worse*
>> than the similar insertion sort. Selection sort is noted for its
>> *simplicity*, and also has performance advantages over more complicated
>> algorithms in certain situations."
>>
>>
>>
>> I think something is very wrong with the answer given in the solution. It
>> should be D.
>>
>>
>>
>> Does VCAA stand by their answer?
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>> Mark Kelly
>>
>>
>>
>> mark at vceit.com
>>
>> http://vceit.com
>>
>>
>>
>> Scanned by the Netbox from Netbox Blue <http://netboxblue.com/>
>>
>>
>> Scanned by the Netbox from Netbox Blue <http://netboxblue.com/>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
>
> Mark Kelly
>
> mark at vceit.com
> http://vceit.com
>



-- 

Mark Kelly

mark at vceit.com
http://vceit.com
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